Audrey Tautou has shifted her focus from film since 2018, stepping back after “En Liberté” but returning to voice work in 2023’s “Nina and the Secret of the Hedgehog.” Embracing diverse creative projects, she is illustrating a children’s book and compiling her photography. Tautou aims to direct an animated feature, expressing her desire for artistic freedom. Although her last live-action role was in “The Jesus Rolls,” her illustrious career includes acclaimed performances and three César nominations.
Audrey Tautou’s Journey Since 2018
Since her last cinematic appearance in the film “En Liberté,” directed by Pierre Salvadori, Audrey Tautou has taken a step back from the silver screen. However, she made a return to the world of animation by lending her voice to the French film “Nina and the Secret of the Hedgehog” in 2023, and earlier this year, she graced the theater stage.
The question arises: Is she withdrawing from cinema? Tautou clarifies this in an interview surrounding the release of her photo book “Superfacial,” published by Fisheye Editions. “I know that when I am on a film set, I am at home,” she shares. “I did not decide to give myself an enchanted break by rejecting the acting profession.”
Exploring New Creative Avenues
Audrey is not just resting; she’s busy with various projects. In a conversation with Le Figaro in October 2023, she revealed, “I am drawing the illustrations for a children’s book that I wrote.” Additionally, she is compiling her photography into a book. “Photography, writing, and drawing… I cannot imagine leaving my home at 6 a.m. to return at 9 p.m., five days a week for three months. Depriving myself of my child for a shoot is a no!”
In another interview with Au féminin, she shared her experience as a self-taught artist: “Since I am self-taught, everything takes me a lot of time. I embarked on all these adventures without fully realizing how difficult it would be. Life is an adventure; you have to dare to give yourself the freedom to be happy, to do what you love when you have the luxury. I have.”
As for her cinematic aspirations, Tautou is looking to direct her first animated feature film. “I wrote a story for children. I wanted to develop it into a screenplay… It allows for a lot of creativity and freedom,” she noted in her BFM TV interview. “I hope to be able to direct it. It will take a lot of time because the timeline for animation is long. So see you in ten years! I’m not sure you’ll see me again by then!”
A Look Back at Her Film Career
In 2023, she voiced a character in “Nina and the Secret of the Hedgehog,” but her last live-action appearance was in “The Jesus Rolls,” a remake of “Les Valseuses” and a spin-off of “The Big Lebowski,” directed by John Turturro, which still awaits release in French theaters. Her final theatrical performance was in “En Liberté!” which premiered on October 31, 2018, featuring her alongside Pio Marmaï and Adèle Haenel.
Audrey Tautou’s acting journey began on television in series like “Les Cordier” and “Julie Lescaut,” before she gained acclaim in the film “Vénus beauté (institut),” which earned her the César for Best Young Female Hope. Her breakout role in “Le Fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain” catapulted her to international fame, and she has since collaborated with renowned directors like Alain Resnais and Cédric Klapisch.
With three César nominations to her name, including her standout performance as Coco Chanel in “Coco avant Chanel,” Tautou has showcased her versatility across various genres. More recently, she has embraced theater, performing in “Charlotte,” a play about German painter Charlotte Salomon, and she plans to reprise this role soon.